Exercise device having foot restraining means

ABSTRACT

An exercise device which may be used to develop the muscles of the legs or the stomach and back. The device has a tilting seat and a padded foot holding bar. The height of the seat is adjustable. The foot holding bar may be positioned at a number of locations, depending on the exercise being performed. The foot holding bar is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

United States Patent Norman E. Walker, also Known as Clint Walker 51 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] EXERCISE DEVICE HAVING FOOT RESTRAINING MEANS [72] Inventor: Norman E. Walker, also Known as Clint Walker, 132 South Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Calif. 90212 [22] Filed: June 4, 1970 [21 Appl. No.: 43,482

[52] US. Cl. ..272/58, 272/57 D [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 23/02, A63b 23/04 [58] Field of Search ..272/57, 57 R, 57 D, 58, 60, 272/79 R, 79

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,810 12/1928 Daniels et a1 ..272/57 R X 1,703,104 2/1929 l-lassler ..272/57 R 4/1947 Bell ..272/57 R 2,895,736 7/1959 Adler ..272/58 1,705,745 3/1929 Anderson "272/57 2,759,730 8/1956 Berry ..272/57 2,362,111 11/1944 Burns ..272/58 1,456,317 5/1923 Lauer ..272/57 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Oldham & Oldham ABSIRACT An exercise device which may be used to develop the muscles of the legs or the stomach'and back. The device has a tilting seat and a padded foot holding bar. The height of the seat is adjustable. The foot holding bar may be positioned at a number of locations, depending on the exercise being performed. The foot holding bar is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED M19 3 I973 SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR.

NORMAN E. WALKER ATTOR NEYS EXERCISE DEVICE HAVING FOOT RESTRAINING MEANS This invention relates to a device which may be used for performing exercises to develop and strengthen the muscles of the legs and those of the hips and stomach. More particularly, the invention relates to such device which may be easily adjusted according to the exercise being performed and the size of the individual.

Various exercising apparati which may be used for strengthening the leg or back muscles have been known but these devices are of limited usefulness, being designed to permit one particular exercise and lacking adjustability. Many of these prior art devices are also of complex and therefore expensive construction.

It is the primary object of thepresent invention to provide an exercising device which is readily adjustable to permit the user to perform several different exercises with the same device. It is also an object of the invention to provide an exercise device which is of inexpensive, lightweight, but sturdy construction.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following specification, and the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In'the drawing:

. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional views taken along the line 2-2 and 33, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the use of the device of FIGS. 1-4 when performing leg muscle developing exercises; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the use of the device to perform hip and stomach muscle developing exercises. The exercise device of the present invention has a horizontal base rail 10 which is mounted on a cross rail 12 at one end and is slidably received in a base and foot engaging assembly 14 at its opposite end. The rail 10 is preferably formed of a length of lightweight tubing, for example, aluminum tubing. A seat assembly 16 is mounted on the rail 10 between the cross rail 12 and the foot retaining assembly 14. The seat assembly 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2. This assembly has a seat constructed of a base 18, padding 20 and a durable covering 22. Brackets 24 on the underside of the base 18 pivotally receive a positioning rod 26. The rod 26 passes through the upper end of a length of tubing 28, which is preferably lightweight aluminum tubing of square cross section. The supporting tubing 28 is telescopically received in a tubing section 30 which is secured to the base rail 10 and braced by a suitable brace 32. The height of the seat assembly 16 may be adjusted by suitable means such as a spring loaded pin 34, having a rounded end, carried by a retaining member 36 within the support tubing 28. A number of spaced holes 38 are provided on one side of the tube length 30 and the pin 34 projects through one of these holes to retain the seat assembly 16 in position. Vertical adjustment of the tubing and seat is provided by pressing in on the pin 34 and forcing the tubing section 30 to slide vertically.

The base and foot engaging assembly 14 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. This assembly has a base plate 42. A length of tubing 44 is mounted on the base plate 42 and the horizontal rail 10 is slidably received within this tubing 44. A suitable member or pin 46 projects through the upper side of the tubing 44 and engages in one of a number of spaced holes 48 in the upper side of the horizontal rail 10 for adjustment of the position of the foot assembly. A vertically positioned tubing section or length 50 projects upwardly from the horizontal tube 44. A block 52 is slidably received within the vertical tube 50. This block carries a spring loaded pin 54 which projects through one of a number of holes 56 on one side of the tube 50 for holding the block at spaced vertical positions. The opposite sides of the tube 50 are slotted, as indicated at 58, and the block 52 pivotally carries a bar 60 which projects outwardly through the slots 58 at right angles to the base rail 10. The exposed portions of the bar or rod 60 are covered with heavy layers of padding or other padded members 62.

When the device is used primarily for leg exercises, the foot engaging and base member 14 is positioned on the rail 10 close to the seat 16 and the seat is positioned at one of the lower positions. The leg strengthening exercises are performed by positioning the knees on the seat, disassembled shown in FIG. 5, and passing the feet under the padding 62 on the bar 60. In this position, a sit up type exercise may be performed. It should be noted that the base rail 10 projects a sufficient distance beyond the seat on both sides that the device does not tend to tip forwardly or rearwardly. Also, the cross rail 12 and base plate 42 are sufficiently wide to prevent the exercise device from tipping to one side or the other. FIG. 6 illustrates the use of the device for performing exercises primarily to strengthen the back and stomach muscles. As shown in this Figure, the seat is raised to a higher position than for the leg exercises and the foot engaging base 14 is moved further along the rod 10 away from the seat 16.

It should be noted that the device is designed to be made of lightweight aluminum extrusions and is a compact easily moved unit. It is contemplated that the base rail 10 may be of sectional construction and that the cross rail 12 may be removable so that the device may be easily disassembled for transportation and for storage in a compact area. The foot and seat pads, or covers therefor, may be of attractive plastic material.

The base plate 42 may be made from wood or metal, as desired.

It will be understood that the locking detents or pins 34 and 54 and cooperating members are of any conventional construction to facilitate the desired position adjustment and lock action required. The pin 46 is retained in position by a cover 47 secured to the tube 44. The pin has a flange 46a thereon and a spring 45 urges the pin 46 downwardly at all times. The upper end of the pin 46 can be manually engaged to lift the pin out of its locking position for adjustment of the position of the base member 14 on the rail 10.

The device described herein fills the objective set out above. Since the height of the seat, the height of the foot engaging bar, and the distance between the foot engaging assembly 14 and seat 16 may be easily adjusted over a wide range, the device is readily adapted for performing a number of different exercises and is 3 a 4 easily adjusted for people of different heights. Since the a seat assembly pivotally connected to the upper end device may be constructed primarily of aluminum exof the upright trusions, it is inexpensive, lightweight, and attractive in a second upright secured to the base plate. in spaced appearance. relation to the first upright; and

While one embodiment of the present invention has 5 foot engaging means carried by the second upright been described herein, it will be understood that and extending on either side thereofin right angled changes and additions may be made without departing relation to the base rail. from the spirit of the invention. Reference should h exercise devlce cc rdl g to cla m 1 wherein therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the helght of f Seat 'f saldhase all adlustabh} the tr e s o e f th i v ti 3. The exercise device according to claim 1 wherein Whatis clai d i the height of the foot engaging means relative to the 1. An exercise device, comprising: base l 5 J 1B- I a b l 4. The exercise device according to claim 1 wher e1n a horizontally extending open-ended tubing length the foot ehgaglhg meafls l a rod extendmg Secured to h base plate; through the second upright and padding on each of the a horizontally extending base rail slidably received in prolechhg P P of P the tubing length; 5. The exercise device according to claim 4 wherein locking means for securing the tubing section to the h rotate the secohd "P about the base rail; longitudinal axis of the rod. an upright secured to the base rail;

UNKTE STATES PATENT GFFECE QERTWECATE OF (30mm Dated August 8, 1972 Pacm No. 3,682,475

Invenfbr (s) Norman E. Walker It is gertified that eri or appears in the above-identified pat'nt and that said Letters Patent are hereby Corrected as shown below: a

Column 2, Li ne.27, change "disaissfribled' t o as Signed and sealed phis 19th day of Dedemb'er 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD MJETCHER R. I v

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-D 633 6-969 FORM PO-105U"10-69l 

1. An exercise device, comprising: a base plate; a horizontally extending open-ended tubing length secured to the base plate; a horizontally extending base rail slidably received in the tubing length; locking means for securing the tubing section to the base rail; an upright secured to the base rail; a seat assembly pivotally connected to the upper end of the upright a second upright secured to the base plate in spaced relation to the first upright; and foot engaging means carried by the second upright and extending on either side thereof in right angled relation to the base rail.
 2. The exercise device according to claim 1 wherein the height of said seat above said base rail is adjustable.
 3. The exercise device according to claim 1 wherein the height of the foot engaging means relative to the base rail is adjustable.
 4. The exercise device according to claim 1 wherein the foot engaging means comprises a rod extending through the second upright and padding on each of the projecting portions of the rod.
 5. The exercise device according to claim 4 wherein the rod is free to rotate in the second upright about the longitudinal axis of the rod. 